Paul Robinson Repeats Terremer (V15/V16)

Paul Robinson on Terre de Sienne (V14), part two of the Terremer link-up. Photo by James Q. Martin - JamesQMartin.com.

Paul Robinson has made the second ascent of Terremer (V15/V16), the hardest boulder problem at Hueco Tanks, Texas. Robinson completed the problem on January 1, capping a superb two weeks of climbing during which he has done several V13 and V14 problems, including a flash of Nagual, the first V13 flash by an American.

Switzerland’s Fred Nicole established Terremer at the beginning of 2006. The problem links Diaphanous Sea (V12) and Terre de Sienne (V14), two other Nicole problems on Hueco’s North Mountain. Dave Graham nearly repeated the climb in February 2006 but suffered a nasty flapper and had to give up his attempts.

Nicole suggested Terremer might be V16, and Robinson doesn't seem inclined to downgrade. He said, "The problem took me four days to complete, but I had previously done Terre de Sienne last January, and that took three days to complete. The climb [Terremer] definitely is hard for V15. I think it is the hardest boulder I have ever done so far.

Robinson, 20, has climbed one problem given V15: Jade in Rocky Mountain National Park.